The Kansas City Chiefs have been a dominant force in the NFL over the past several seasons, and according to ESPN analyst and former NFL safety Ryan Clark, the best might still be ahead. Speaking recently on an ESPN segment, Clark gave high praise to Patrick Mahomes and company, stating that Kansas City is poised to be even stronger heading into the 2025 season than they were last year.
“I just can’t go against Kansas City until someone shows me that they aren’t supposed to be there,” Clark said. “I love this team this year, and they are a better team heading into 2025 than they were in 2024. And we act like they didn’t just go out and win 15 games in the regular season.”
The Chiefs’ 2024 campaign was impressive by any measure. They finished with a 15-2 record, secured the AFC’s top seed, and once again made a deep playoff run. Clark believes that level of success wasn’t an outlier but rather a reflection of a franchise that has built one of the NFL’s most sustainable winning cultures.
Kansas City’s offseason moves also reinforce Clark’s confidence. The team made key additions on both sides of the ball, bolstering their offensive line to better protect Mahomes and adding more speed to their receiving corps. On defense, the Chiefs retained most of their core while bringing in additional depth to keep up with high-powered AFC offenses.
“Patrick Mahomes continues to evolve,” Clark said. “He’s not just an athletic quarterback with a big arm; he’s becoming one of the smartest players in football. Add that to the leadership of Andy Reid and the experience of Travis Kelce, and this is a team that knows how to win in every situation.”
Clark’s comments reflect a broader sentiment among NFL analysts. Many believe the Chiefs’ continuity, paired with their improvements in roster depth, puts them in a position to maintain their dominance despite fierce competition from teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, and Cincinnati Bengals.
Still, as Clark pointed out, the NFL is unpredictable. Injuries, unexpected breakout teams, and the challenges of repeating success in a league built for parity can always play a role. But until proven otherwise, Kansas City remains the standard in the AFC.
“I respect the Ravens, I respect the Bengals, and I love what’s happening in Houston,” Clark said. “But the Chiefs are the champs until somebody knocks them off. It’s that simple.”
Fans across the league will be watching closely to see if Kansas City can live up to Clark’s prediction. If Mahomes, Reid, and the rest of the Chiefs continue their trajectory, the road to the Super Bowl could once again run through Arrowhead Stadium.
